Scottish Executive

Europe

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who will be Scotland's full and alternate members to the Regional Chamber of Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe for the two year mandate that begins in May 2004.

Mr Andy Kerr: The names of Tavish Scott MSP as the full member and Phil Gallie MSP as the alternate member have been forwarded to the Council of Europe, under the procedure agreed by the government of the United Kingdom for appointing the UK delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe.

Family Law

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its consultation document on the reform of family law.

Cathy Jamieson: I have today published a consultation document, Family Matters: Improving Family Law in Scotland . Copies of the consultation document are available in the Parliament's Reference Centre. This consultation deals, among others, with issues of great significance for children and those who care for them. We will be seeking views from a wide range of stakeholders, organisations and individuals on our proposals.

Livestock

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the review of the livestock improvement scheme and what plans it has for the continuation and improvement of the scheme.

Allan Wilson: In their present forms, the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grants Scheme and the support for livestock improvement have been in place for a long time. We recognise that there are opportunities to refocus crofting support to provide better value for money. That is why the Crofters Commission has consulted comprehensively on the future of these crofting support schemes.

  I have considered the future of crofting support in the light of the responses to that consultation and, in the case of livestock improvement, I have also considered an extensive and detailed evaluation of these schemes, conducted by the Scottish Agricultural College.

  Significant elements of the proposals on which we consulted require primary legislation before they can be implemented but I believe that some of the changes that can be made without primary legislation should be made as soon as possible. I believe that these changes will enhance effectiveness, efficiency and value for money and modernise crofting support arrangements.

  I propose to modify the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grant Scheme to provide that all support will be subject to approval of an application. I also plan to increase the maximum limit on eligible expenditure over a two year period to £50,000 for individuals and £125,000 for eligible groups. In addition I aim to increase standard costs rates to bring them into line with those under the Agricultural Business Development Scheme and introduce new arrangements to deal fairly with applicants and control spending where demand for grants exceeds the scheme budget. However, alongside these improvements, grants rates need to be brought into line with those in other capital grant schemes. So grant rates over 50% of costs will no longer be available.

  On livestock improvement, I propose to continue support for the improvement of cattle stocks and intend to replace the current Bull Hire Scheme with a new grant scheme to be developed over the next few months and to come into operation as soon as possible. In this connection a study will be undertaken to establish whether the stud farm operation at Inverness can be reorganised so that it can play a viable role in the new scheme. I propose to close the Ram Purchase Scheme and the Shetland Ram Scheme forthwith. However, in connection with the former we will explore the possibility of providing training in ram selection and purchase, including a mentoring visit to a sale, if there is a demand for such assistance.

  In all cases current commitments will be honoured. These will be interim measures and will remain in place until plans for a comprehensive crofting development programme can be finalised and legislation to enable the Crofters Commission to run such a scheme can be enacted.

  Copies of the report on the evaluation of the Livestock Improvements Schemes and of a summary of the responses to the consultation on the proposals for the crofting development programme have been placed in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. numbers 32087 and 32088). The responses to the consultation are available for inspection at the Crofters Commission, Castle Wynd, Inverness, IV2 3EQ.

Rail Network

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) track and signalling and (b) station incremental output statements have been implemented in Scotland in each year since the inception of the incremental output statement programme, showing, where possible, the actual or estimated costs of each scheme provided by it, the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) and other public sector sources; how many such schemes have been approved for implementation but are currently awaiting resources, showing indicative costs for each programme, and how many such schemes are currently being prepared by the Strategic Rail Authority and the Executive for possible future implementation, showing indicative costs for each programme.

Nicol Stephen: The development and approval of such schemes is a matter for the SRA. The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the SRA on a wide range of issues, including the progress of their incremental output statement schemes.

Rail Network

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has received the report, The Case for Rail in the Highlands and Islands, published by Highlands and Islands Enterprise on 16 March 2004 and, if so, how it will use the information in the report to increase investment in the rail infrastructure in the Highlands.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has received this report and Scottish Executive officials attended its public launch in Inverness headquarters on 16 March 2004. The Executive welcomes the report, and will continue to be supportive of rail services in the Highlands.